Introduction :

The National Medical Commission Bill 2016, is presented in the Lok Sabha which aims at replacing the existing Medical Bill, which says that the Doctors pursuing the Indian medicine system including Ayurveda and homeopathy can be allowed to practice allopathy after clearing a six-month course. This Bill aims to fulfill the shortage of medical professionals in the country.

There are many hurdles in the integration of the AYUSH doctors (Ayurveda, Yoga Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) with the modern medicines due to the fact that practitioners of the Ayurveda and Homeopathy differ from allopathy in their understanding of the disease, prevention, and its treatment.

Pros :

There is one doctor for every 1674 people in India but for according the WHO standard, the ratio should be one in 1000. Therefore, to solve this problem the government introduced a ‘bridge-course’ for the ayurvedic and homeopathic doctors which could prove to be a good step.

With the introduction of this bill, it will enhance the interface between the homeopathy, Ayurveda and modern medicines.

This new Bill will also provide access to multiple options of medicines under one roof, which could be used for the treatment of various diseases.

Lack of scientific evidence or validation on the effectiveness of the AYUSH therapies is a big problem. Therefore, allowing the use of Ayurveda and homeopathy along with the modern medication could prove to be an effective step.

Cons :

Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) a lot of homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors are posted in the villages and small towns for the treatment, but there is no supply of homeopathic and ayurvedic medicines, therefore allowing them to use modern medicines, may result in risking the lives of many citizens.

Mixing of modern medicines with the traditional therapies and medicines is not a small task, which requires a lot of systematic approaches and creates a lot of problems and confusion among the patients.

According to the bill, the bridge-course trained practitioner is entitled to provide only basic medical care in the rural and remote areas, but the patients with an emergency who need immediate critical care may end up in risky situations.

The Development and study of ayurveda and homeopathy are left only in a few research institutes, and if they also start practicing the modern medicines then the status and future of ayurveda and homeopathy will be in danger.

1 comment

Why is the government trying to use a short cut. They should establish more medical colleges and improve health and sanitary conditions. They should also try to improve health education in the existing colleges. Just to meet WHO standards they should not do it.